Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin
Guard your Wi-Fi for your own sake (itworld.com)
3 points by abennett on Nov 4, 2009 | hide | past | favorite | 4 comments


Contrast this "guard your wi-fi" warning with Schneier's 2008 "open your wi-fi" invitation.

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2008/01/my_open_wirele...

Schneier basically lists a bunch of reasons why you should NOT allow open access to your wi-fi, but says that he leaves his open anyway, to be neighborly.

When I read that, I remember feeling impressed at his civic-mindedness, while simultaneously deciding "nope." I also do not want to run afoul of Comcast, as I am much farther than 5,000 DSL feet from QWest's nearest central office.

At this moment, the comments on his post continue from the date of publication, Jan 15 2008, to Oct 17 2009.


If you want to be neighborly, send your key to your neighbors on a postcard.

Added bonus: you probably get to meet some new neighbors.


There is a difference between "have good outgoing access control" and "don't offer open wifi". Something like http://www.openbsd.org/faq/pf/authpf.html can even be used to increase the priviliges of authenticated users.

Of course, proper outgoing access controls are a lot harder than just not offering open wifi...


This is news? If I leave my wireless open, within minutes it's being used to torrent stuff.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: